ESPN’s Bill Barnwell did a whacky mock draft where the 49ers trade down and add a player from the Dolphins.
The San Francisco 49ers told us they have a dire need at defensive tackle when they released both starters this offseason. Because of that, now the entire NFL knows.
That doesn’t mean the Niners are picking a defensive tackle at No. 11 overall in the upcoming NFL Draft. Still, seeing other teams maneuver around San Francisco, knowing the positions they’re eyeing wouldn’t be surprising.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell conducts an out-of-the-box mock draft annually that involves every team making a trade in the first round. He has the 49ers doing business with Mike McDaniel and the Miami Dolphins:
49ers get: 1-13, Edge Jaelan Phillips
Dolphins get: 1-11, 4-113
Here’s one more deal for the Dolphins to get ahead of the Cowboys at No. 12 to take a defensive tackle. The 49ers would move down two spots and give up a fourth-rounder, but they would land a potential starter and cornerstone on the edge. Phillips has looked like a budding breakout candidate, but injuries have stalled his progress. He had 22 sacks over his first 2½ seasons, but he tore an Achilles in 2023 and then tore his ACL early in 2024.
Adding Phillips would make the 49ers infinitely better at edge rusher and allow them to still draft a defensive tackle of their choice. They could even take the best player available, come back in round two, and take the next best of the defensive tackle, cornerback, or offensive tackle group.
As much as I love Phillips, he’s somewhat of a throw-in for this trade. His injury history predates his time in the NFL.
As a freshman at UCLA, Phillips sprained an ankle that knocked him out for a few games and a concussion limited him to six games that season. The next season, a car injury caused Phillips to undergo multiple operations and remove various bones, which eventually led to him being advised to retire from football at 19. His final season at the University of Miami, where he had 15.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks, led to Phillips getting drafted in the first round. However, the injuries noted above have put a ceiling on Phillips’s career and could be more of an indicator of what’s to come.
The last time the 49ers traded down in the first round, they passed up Tristan Wirfs for Javon Kinlaw. So, as popular as trading down is, sometimes it’s best to simply take the best player on the board. The 49ers must decide if whichever player they covet would be available two picks later, and if a player with an extensive injury like Phillips fits into their plan. History would suggest no, especially coming off a 6-win season where the Niners couldn’t field their free agents they signed from the previous offseason.